Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund: Five things to watch

This is what fans have been waiting for all season. Yes, there were Champions League matches, World Cup qualifiers and heated rivalries, which provided us with excitement. However no game could get that close to the level as Saturday’s upcoming Bundesliga's top match.

Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich. Last year’s Champions League winner and runner-up are combined accountable for the last four Bundesliga titles. It doesn’t get any better then this.

Ahead of the kick-off on Saturday 23th November 2013 at 17:30, here are five things to watch ahead of the Bundesliga’s top match:

As both players are more comfortable on the offensive side of the ball it’s assumed that they won’t meet on the pitch that often. However the game will most likely decided by one of two.

Mario Gotze returns to Borussia Dortmund after his transfer to Bayern Munich was announced right before they met in the Champions League final. It could get unpleasant as the passionate fans of Dortmund are still angry about his sudden departure. Saying he is not frightened of the fan reaction, as he did this week, isn’t helping.

Gotze hasn’t shown much this season, because an injury held him back for month, but he showed off his skills at the right time recording two crucial assists in recent weeks, and it's hard to rule him out making an impact against his former club.

Marco Reus, who was linked with a £30m bid from Manchester United earlier this month, however has had a great season thus far with seven goals and five assists.

Which team will suffer the most from injuries?

Dortmund might be the first answer as Bayern Munich has more talent in depth. But the team from Bavaria lost their creative player Bastian Schweinsteiger and the Ballon d’Or aspirant Franck Ribery. On the other hand four of Dortmund’s best defenders are ruled out injured. They managed to compensate one, but four seems nearly impossible.

Borussia Dortmund’s fast paced attack, led by Marco Reus, is feared around the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiolapraised the counter-attacking strength of his upcoming opponent at today’s press conference: “If we let them run with the ball, then we will have no chance.” They are the best side in that he continued.

With having lost so many good players in defence Dortmund won't try to keep it a low scoring game. Jurgen Klopp, Dortmund’s manager, knows that Munich will net at least one or two. So Dortmund will aim to score even more, as well and Klopp will tell his side to play aggressively offensively.

Markus Hanfler

Markus wanted to be a dinosaur and a cowboy first. After it became clear that this wasn't going to pan out he started pursuing a career as a journalist. Having gained experience by writing for a local newspaper and the German Federal Ministry of Defence he started a blog to discuss American Football with a friend. When he is not watching sports or checking out what’s new on the internet, he likes playing sport himself – especially climbing and Ultimate Frisbee (“Yes! It’s a sport.”).